“I won’t bite, Lemon. Well… not yet.” He chuckles and my insides spasm. I slip my fingers into his palm. “Right choice, baby,” he whispers and I shiver. He leads me up some stairs and onto a second floor. We pass a couple of what look like storage rooms, and he stops outside the last door. Pulling out the remote he used to open the big metal door, he points it back downstairs and the garage door whines as it starts closing. He turns back around and pulls a key from his pocket.
“Welcome, Lemon.”
I walk into a huge space with a bed and sofa, two doors leading to other rooms, and a small kitchen space.
“This is a studio apartment.”
“Yeah. This is where I come to find solace when there’s too much bullshit messing with my head,” he explains.
“Does it work?” I whisper as he steps closer to me.
“Yeah, baby, but I’m thinking it will be a whole lot better with you here.” Smiling, he gathers my hair in his hand at the nape of my neck and crashes our mouths together. He rips his lips from mine. “I won’t do anything you don’t want, Lemon, but if you want to explore with me, I’m game,” he offers, and the desire in his eyes warms every part of me. I groan and start unbuttoning his shirt. We move to the bed and carefully Tarrant coaxes my dress off, much more urgently I divest him of his shirt.
Before we get too carried away, he stops us mid-kiss. I blink in another Tarrant daze, although this one for a totally different reason. He ignores our various stages of undress and puts both his hands on my cheeks. Staring into my eyes for a few seconds, I wait for… I don’t know what. Then I realize why he’s studying me. “Say yes, baby, you have to say the word. I won’t go any further otherwise. I’m not gonna fuck your head up. I need you to never regret this.” He rests his forehead against mine. “Never want you to regret us, Lemon.”
My heart pumps harder than it ever has… and it feels divine.
“Yes,” I breathe out. And I know I’ll never regret him.
Not ever.
Tarrant’s eyes alight with desire and he kisses me again, slowly, deeply and I can feel his love in our connection, flowing from his mouth to mine. He steps back, pulling our bodies apart and I allow my eyes to eat up his chest. Blinking, I quickly attempt to focus, but my gaze seems to be glued to the hard ripples under each pack.
Is that what it’s called? A pack?
Shaking my head I hesitantly reach out with my fingers to touch him, pausing just before I make contact. I tilt my head and watch Tarrant. His chest swells and contracts with each breath, then on a guttural moan he tenderly grasps my hand and pulls it to his chest, hissing immediately upon contact. There’s a controlled strain on his face as he closes his eyes and lets his head fall backward slightly.
“Are you okay?” I whisper.
“Okay doesn’t belong in this moment, Lemon. I’m fucking euphoric.”
“Because it’s me,” I murmur without thinking.
His head lowers back toward me and his eyes meet mine. The corner of his mouth twitches as he reaches out to cup my face. “Because it’s you,” he confirms.
I close my eyes as a tear slips out of the corner, and like the magical moment this is I suddenly feel Tarrant’s soft lips press against the runaway tear, stopping its journey.
“Shhh… no tears baby. Look at me.”
I open my eyes, sniffing away the emotion that still lingers. The green of his eyes seems brighter than usual and I try to pick out all the blue and gold flecks.
“No tears, okay?” he asks but kisses me before I can respond. “No tears,” he whispers again then resumes kissing me.
My heart is vibrating hard and I feel like my skin is buzzing. Tarrant bends slightly and threads his arms under my butt before picking me up. The movement is so quick I wobble and reach out to him, crossing my arms around his neck. Looking down at his face, I secure my legs around his waist.
“Kiss me, baby, I need you to kiss me.”
I don’t wait, don’t think, I’m not sure I even breathe as I press my lips to his. That’s all he requires before he takes over—me unreservedly giving myself to him.
Walking us over to the bed he cups the back of my head before leaning over and laying me down gently. He kneels but sits back gazing at me. “You’re my absolute.”
I suck in my cheeks, desperate not to cry again, even though my tears would be born from love.
“Can I take these off?” he asks running his hand over my bra, between my breasts and stopping just above my panty line.
I nod, it’s all I can manage.
Achingly slowly Tarrant removes my bra and bends forward, but before his mouth reaches my nipple he pauses, and his eyes dart to mine. “May I?”
“Yes,” I force the word out, barely able to speak, I can taste my own anticipation, but I know he needs to hear me say it. I told him what happened to me and he’s aware I’m still a virgin.
He truly thinks I’m precious. He’ll always be tender with me.
Tarrant’s mouth drives me from my wandering thoughts as it covers my perky nipple. I groan out loud and am surprised by my involuntary response to his action. My eyelids flicker then close as I experience physically being loved, a touch I’ve not felt before. He spends time on one breast before moving to the other and all I can do is clench the bedcovers in my fists.
Drawing his mouth away from my upper half he starts kissing down my body, his heated gaze shoots back and forth between my eyes and body. He wants me to give him a nonverbal yes, but I can’t speak. Instead, I bite the corner of my mouth and let my eyes roll backward while groaning as he reaches my inner thigh. I hear him chuckle and feel his body shake, but it’s momentary as he drags my panties down, pulling them over my feet, then, lovingly, he pushes my legs apart slowly running his finger along my clit.
This boy ignites me in a way that I’ve never felt before, but the moment his head lowers and his tongue finds purchase on me I cry out with pleasure and it doesn’t take long for me to explode in his mouth.
Tarrant sits back up as I let the aftershocks continue to rumble through my body. My eyes flutter open and land on his hooded ones.
“What next?” I push out.
He smiles while biting his lip and it makes him look boyish and breathtakingly sexy all at the same time.
“We can stop right here. There’s always tomorrow. We have a million tomorrows now, Lemon,” he states.
I shake my head coyly. “No, I don’t want to stop. I need you,” I admit.
He watches me, calculating my reply. Then with a nod he gets off the bed removing his pants and rolling on a condom. I take him in, all of him. He’s naked...Tarrant Reigns is naked in front of me. And I’m naked.
This is going to happen.
“You can still say no, you can always say no, baby,” Tarrant reassures me.
“Please,” I whimper reaching out my hand.
Threading his fingers through mine he stares at our linked hands. Climbing on the bed one-handed, he hovers over me, keeping the contact between us. I can feel his dick at my entrance, but he’s hesitating.
Looking up at him our eyes meet. “I love you,” I whisper the words he already knows. Relief washes over his face and carefully he slides into me.
Pausing, he squeezes my hand. “I’m gonna try to be gentle, baby.”
“Do it,” my reply is raspy and wanting.
The moment he pushes in all the way a sting bites into me, but slowly it dissipates, and I’m surprised it wasn’t as painful as I thought it would be. Tarrant slides in and out. He never breaks our fixed stare, and as the feeling builds and the bond between us really penetrates, I finally lose control of my emotions, the tears cascade down my face—loving, happy, peaceful tears. Telling me everything in my world is right.
We ascend and peak nearly simultaneously. I know my orgasm is a direct result of my emotions and I bask in the afterglow.
Tarrant falls to one side of my body, propping himself up on one elbow he pulls his other hand from
mine and strokes my tear stained cheek.
“There’s no strings with you, but I wish there were. I need to wrap up in them, tie myself to you so completely that I’ll never unravel. You’re pure, and together baby we can make our own rainbow.”
“Always and forever Tarrant,” I say, a tiny questioning tone in my voice.
“Always and for fucking ever, Laura.”
The promise of Tarrant was never meant to match the reality. I always assumed it would be for the worse, but the truth is, I could never have imagined how beautiful the two of us together could really be.
I watch as people scatter, the heavens open, and the rain pours. Tarrant smiles at me and holds out his hand as the outdoor speakers crackle to life. I remember our first kiss on a beach much like this—it seems like so long ago. He claimed me that night with a simple kiss, although I’ve learned that nothing is simple where Tarrant is concerned. I sigh and turn my body toward him and place my hand in his like I have a million other times. Every day since then he has made my heart feel full to bursting with the love he unconditionally offers. This once-broken boy who I thought would never be mine, and this intense, moody, and sometimes scary guy who every girl wanted to be theirs, loves me… me. He did then, and he still does now.
I move close to him while everyone dives for cover. Our photographer snaps pictures, and I smile at my husband in the rain as he pulls me close so we can dance to our song, Sade—By Your Side. I feel like it’s a sign as most couples wouldn’t want rain on their wedding day, but I can’t think of a better way for the universe to shout the truth. We were created for one another, and as I place my hand on his back, between his shoulder blades, I know I’m home.
“I’ll love every part of you for fucking ever,” he whispers in my ear.
Turn the page for two snippets from Tarrant’s POV
Snippet One
Six months ago I never would have expected to be over the fucking moon to have a girlfriend. Being with one person and committing hasn’t ever been something that I could see myself doing. I’ve spent years watching my parents, aunts, uncles, friend’s parents, almost every couple I can think of arguing, hurting each other, and they have all ultimately split up. It always ends up in a damn mess. But now, as I watch Laura trying to move around the ice skating rink looking like a doe-eyed Bambi, I know without a doubt that if anyone ever tried to take her from me, I would rip their fucking throats out.
On that thought, I see the back of a guy as he speedily slides in front of her and her eyes widen for a moment, obviously surprised at his arrival. I lace up my damn boot and get up, ready to pull the prick away, but as I look back over she’s laughing with him.
What the fuck?
I skate over and slide around, so I’m next to her. “You okay, baby?” I ask, not looking at the dick yet as I try to rein in my jealousy.
“Yeah,” she breathes out looking up to me, and right there, clear in her eyes is the love she feels for me. My chest immediately relaxes and I smile.
“Tarrant Reigns falls foul of the big ‘L’ word.” There’s a chuckle in his voice and a familiarity, and as I turn my head away from Lemon to him, I realize it’s my friend Coby.
I know my eyes widen as he chuckles, a devious grin on his face. “You thought I was gonna hit on your girl again, right?” he asks and laughs.
“Again?” I reply. Not laughing now.
Coby shakes his head still grinning. “So you’re officially off the market?” he asks looking between us.
“Yep,” I answer throwing my arm around her shoulders.
“Damn, never thought I’d see it,” he tells me shaking his head in disbelief.
“When you find someone who’s worth it, you realize the rest were a waste of time.”
He knows exactly what I mean and nods. “Yeah, I get that, brother.” He pats the wall of the rink. “Right, I better go, I have things to do. Catch up soon T. I’ll bring my car in for a tune-up next month.” I nod at him, and he looks down to Laura. “See you soon, Laura, and remember, if you get sick of this asshole, my offer still stands.” He winks at her and skates off.
“What offer?” I ask her confused as she laughs.
Snippet Two
She shouted at him, and I watched her face with rapt attention. No longer was my father in the room—there was only her. The contours of her face changed in that moment, the soft wariness that usually filled her eyes had vanished. She was now a human cyclone with fire in her eyes and anger sparking from every inch of her body. Never in my whole life had someone defended me with such honesty. Not because she had to, not because it was the right thing to do, but because she believed in what she was saying, she believed in me, and she wasn’t scared—her words were thrown with conviction. She was beautiful all the time, but at that moment, Laura was fucking magnificent. I remember that exact clip of time in my life. Her stunning green eyes—the same eyes that caught me initially, they drew me in, and I couldn’t look away from them—were suddenly narrowed and angry, and her teeth were bared as she threw her hands about in the rage she was stuck in. There isn’t a second of that snapshot which isn’t burned on my brain, seared in a way that I’ll relive it, cherish it, even in the next life. I know why, because it was right then, in that moment, that I knew with complete certainty, that I was in love with Laura Cooper, and there wouldn’t be anything, not a single damn thing that I wouldn’t do to make myself worthy of her to get her to love me back.
Nothing was going to stop me.
Alanis Morissette – Head Over Feet
Colbie Cailat – Fallin’ For You
The Neighbourhood – Sweater Weather
Ne-Yo – Let Me Love You
Labrinth – Jealous
Selena Gomez – Perfect
Beyonce – Broken-Hearted Girl
Alex and Sierra – Bumper Cars
Lily Allen – Fuck You
As It Is – Speak Soft
Little Mix – Secret Love Song
Joshua Radin – Today
Shawn Mendes – Stitches
Taylor Swift – Wildest Dreams
Yellowcard – Only One
Katy Perry – Thinking of You
Sia – Big Girls
Sade – By Your Side
Making sure to say thank you to everyone and not miss anyone out can be stressful. There will always be that one person that you curse yourself for forgetting once the book goes live. So I’m going to preface these acknowledgments by apologizing if I forget you. Truly it is my dizzy brain and not because I don’t appreciate you. Big love.
My family – As always you’re in my corner, and I couldn’t do this without your support. You will always be the center of my heart, and I will love you forever and then some.
To my cover designer Fran from Francessca’s PR & Designs – Thank you for giving me amazing covers, this one is my favorite.
To Kay from Swish Design & Editing – Thank you for everything you do for me, including the amazing formatting in all my books.
To my Misfits – You’re a constant source of support, encouragement and safety. I know you’ll always have my back and I love having such a caring group around me.
To my IG and Twitter family – Wow! What an endless bucket of kindness you show me with your support. I struggle with social media and keeping up, but you never cease to amaze me with your help and love.
To my author friends – You know who you are. Peace, love, and support works both ways, you always have my back and know that I’ll always have yours. A special thank you to Amanda Johnson and Kirsty Moseley.
My betas – What can I say? You have my back. Always. You’re my tribe.
Laura Nelson – This book is dedicated to you. You’re my girl, I love everything about you.
Morgan Terry – My heart is your heart. Period.
Klaire Sutherland – I know I’ve said it before, but you’re the voice in my head. I wouldn’t feel like my book was complete without your feedback.
Beth Lem
illiere – You’ve been with me from the beginning and you get me. Totally. We have the oonagi (For everyone else, this is what Ross says in Friends.) Ha-ha.
Kerry Adamson – You have also been here since the beginning, you believe in me like no other. You always have. Thank you.
Stacey Tester – You make me smile, I love your love for my characters, your constant support, encouragement and basically everything about you.
Yvonne Eason – Thank you for being you. You do so much to support me and I couldn’t ever repay your kindness. Not ever.
Simone Marietta Owens – I know I can always come to you, ask practically anything and you’ll help me. You make amazing teasers, support me, share my work and basically have my back. Love you lady.
Emma Precious White – You’ve been supporting me for so long, I don’t think any amount of thank you’s could ever show you how much I appreciate you.
Johnaka McCosker – Well, you’ve been an amazing help for me. Your support has blossomed into a solid, genuine friendship, and I love that you are as animated as me about my characters. You make me laugh and I wish you lived closer so I could eat your baked goods and we could laugh and rant together in person. Ha-ha.
Karen Bill – I cannot wait to hug you again. Thank you for being a constant source of good information, as well as being such a lovely person and fab friend. I feel blessed to have you in my tribe.
Hannah Jayne Louise Brimson – The help you’ve given me has been invaluable. I love your feedback and as we’ve discussed before, I’m so thankful to have you in my tribe.
Emma Louise – Let me first point out that I still don’t have cupcakes—not sure that this kind of behavior should be allowed to slip through the net—but moving on, thank you for your amazing teasers, your feedback, your support and mostly your friendship.
Dazed (The Deliverance Series Book 1) Page 24